TEXAS SOCK

It's been rather quiet and uneventful the last couple of days which is good because "the sock" is going to be worn out after what I have planned on Saturday! Tuesday, Dave had to drive to Arkansas to call on a customer, J. B. Hunt Trucking and I was off work so I was a bit lazy overall. I did make a run to LIFEWAY to pick up a book for the Women's Bible Study that will begin next Tuesday. (While I was there, they were selling a promotional DVD for only $5. I have wanted to rent this but at that price, it was too good to pass up!) I am looking forward to doing this study for 2 reasons; one, I miss having the structure and discipline that comes with accountability and two, I think this is a great topic!

God gave us emotions to experience life, not destroy it! Lysa TerKeurst admits that she, like most women, has had experiences where others bump into her happy and she comes emotionally unglued. We stuff, we explode, or we react somewhere in between. What do we do with these raw emotions? Is it really possible to make emotions work for us instead of against us? Yes, and in her usual inspiring and practical way, Lysa will show you how. Filled with gut-honest personal examples and biblical teaching, Unglued will equip you to: Know with confidence how to resolve conflict in your important relationships. Find peace in your most difficult relationships as you learn to be honest but kind when offended. Identify what type of reactor you are and how to significantly improve your communication. Respond with no regrets by managing your tendencies to stuff, explode, or react somewhere in between. Gain a deep sense of calm by responding to situations out of your control without acting out of control.
When Dave and I were engaged we did pre-marital counseling. Like everyone else, we took one of those personality tests to see how compatible we were. Dave and I were almost exactly in sync in every category except one: LOGIC & EMOTION. He is driven by logic and practicality and I am driven by emotion. It has taken MANY years but we have managed (with the help of the Holy Spirit) to reconcile ourselves to those differences. I appreciate that one of us keeps a cool head and he appreciates that I offer a sensitivity that he doesn't always consider. It wasn't always this way, in the early days of our marriage I felt undervalued for my input because it differed from his approach to problem solving. I just felt like he was an insensitive clod! Wow, has God ever made a change in the both of us!!

(Our engagement photo, August 1986)
Our weather has been incredibly weird this week. Monday night I drove home from my Weight Watchers meeting with the windows down, jamming to Classic Rock. Tuesday the humidity was nearly 90% so I had to run the Air Conditioner. Storms rolled through that night and yesterday, I made a fire in the fireplace!

Today "the sock" will accompany me to work. As the "Grunge Queen of North Texas" my cleaning business affords me a lot of flexibility. I started doing this over fifteen years ago and while it's certainly not glamorous, it has given us lots of wiggle room to enjoy and pursue some of our hobbies. Tonight, we are having Family Dinner night. Charlie and his girlfriend are going to start having dinner with us one night a week. Last night, our daughter Laura called and she will be here as well. Last month, Laura planned a two week vacation back to St Charles (just outside St Louis which is our hometown) for Christmas. While we were in Yellowstone she let us know that she had decided to stay and look for a job there. She starts a new job on Monday so she is coming home for a couple of days to wrap up some loose ends here and take a load back up there. I am going to miss that kid but we are hoping that she will finally find some direction in her life and maybe this is what God needs to do to bring her back into His loving embrace.

(My beautiful baby girl Laura)
I will leave you with a Scripture that God brought to mind this morning.
"Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they were saying:
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”
Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!”
Revelation: 5: 11-13

THE SOCK TRAVELS FROM IDAHO TO TEXAS

Saturday, much to my surprise, I found a package in the mailbox all the way from Idaho! That sly Mrs. Mac surprised me by entrusting me with "the sock". Now remember, "the sock" will be ever changing, never the same. Poor sock is suffering from heat exhaustion, leaving the snowy, wintry weather of Idaho and landing here in Texas where we hit nearly 80 degrees today!

I was delighted that "the sock" was kept company on her travels with this little treasure! Does Mrs. Mac know me or what? Not only is this tea bag holder from my beloved Montana, it even has "Old Faithful" on it!

I am pretty sure I never told anyone that I have these 2 little anthropomorphic tea bag holders that I have picked up at an antique store! How did Mrs. Mac know?

As this adventure takes flight, I am sure I will wish I had come up with some clever postings to go with our new sock adventure. The theme of our current adventure is based on the beauty of the feet that spread the Gospel. With that thought in mind, I wanted to share what I do at our church on Sunday mornings.

Dave and I are "on call" with the Hospital Visitation Team but we are also a part of the Welcome Team at our church, Cross Timbers Community Church. We greet folks and do our best to make them feel welcome. We used to have our "post" at one of the auditorium doors until I was recruited to work the Information Center in the lobby. Dave is still at the door, greeting people, giving hugs, handing out the bulletin but he is now flying solo. My job entails answering questions. If people are first-time guests and don't know where to take their kids, I take them there and explain the check in process etc. I help people get plugged into Bible Studies, Life Groups, Seminars, Celebrate Recovery and so on. If an extra set of hands are needed to serve Communion or Usher people to a seat, Dave and I fill in the gaps. If the bathrooms require attention, I'm your gal! Sometimes, I find myself "just" being an encourager or offering a listening ear. If I don't know the answer to something, you will always hear me say,"I don't know but let's find someone who does!"Cross Timbers is known for it's "Welcome Home" attitude. They realize that first impressions are especially critical when it comes to people looking to find a new church home, seeking what's missing from their lives or feeling the need to connect and build relationships. A smile and a little chit chat can go a long way.

New Year Greetings

Dusk at Miranda Beach

Pontevedra, Negros Occidental, Philippines

photo taken by Lidia during the Women of Purpose retreat

January 11, 2013

As long as we have memories, Yesterday remains;

As long as we have hope, Tomorrow waits;

As long as we have friendship, Today is beautiful.

- Unknown

Sending heartfelt greetings
to all my Scarf-Apron-Bible sisters... 

all the way from the Philippine Islands.

May this year 2013
(year 5773 in the Hebraic calendar)

fill your hearts with beauty, wonder, and delight.

a photo of me and my only daughter, Obedient One

Christmas Eve 2012

Blessings,

Lidia

Time to ...

Put on my boots and get to the post office to mail the 'sock' adventure on to the next sister.  Keep an eye open in your mail box.  I'll leave you with this:

"If I had a flower for every time I thought of you 

I could walk through my garden forever."

Alfred Tennyson

The Good Shepherd

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures

 He leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul:

He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil:

for Thou art with me;

thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:

thou annointest my head with oil,

my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Psalm 23 (KJV) picture book

A Day In The Life .... (11:00 PM Update)

.... of a 'Sock' Sister

Since this is a new adventure, one involving a sock ..... (uncharted territory for a SCARF Sister), I thought it would be fun to do a day long post.  So, (Lord willing) I will be making a short post with updates every three or four hours throughout the day.  I'm also taking the liberty of introducing proper sock etiquette (LOL).  The idea behind sending a sock around the world is a bit odd (really) ... so just to let you know how it works .. you will be brought up to date.  This is the one rule the participants must follow:  Purchase one lively pair of socks.  You will set one aside to later forward to the next sister.  The one that arrived in the mail AND one of your new ones, these will be the socks used in your adventure.

•    7:00 AM ~ My day started at six this morning.  Last night's temp went down to around 8F (-13 C) which is rather cold.  We heat with a wood stove so I had to get up to restart the fire.  The socks were very much needed to get going this morning. 

The day begins ~ not much of a sunrise

First thing in the morning, she dresses for work,

    rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started.

 She senses the worth of her work,
    is in no hurry to call it quits for the day.
She’s skilled in the crafts of home and hearth,
    diligent in homemaking.

 (excerpt from Proverbs 31) 

Nathan and the Mr. enjoying breakfast

•   11:00 AM ~ Time to wrap up the kitchen from a later than normal breakfast.  The Mr. slept in to give him a better edge working until 10:00 PM.  Nathan enjoyed waffles and bacon.  The Mr. and I had oatmeal, coffee, OJ and thick sliced bacon.  Dishes are done.  Off to finish up vacuuming and then on to laundry.  This is my world just about every day.  My 'guys' are on an errand to the library.  Back to work I go!

She keeps an eye on everyone in her household,
    and keeps them all busy and productive.

Always dishes (always!)

(excerpt from Proverbs 31)

• 3:00 PM ~ the morning flew by!  Our plumber arrived to install a whole house water filter .. to eliminate damage from hard water deposits in our pipes, faucets, etc.  

saving $ by packing hubby's lunch

The kitchen was a busy place with getting hubby's lunch packed.

I made mayo in the blender ... and started the slow process of roasting beef bones to make stock.

light steam from the roasting pan makes the perfect environment to make yogurt

Yogurt and buttermilk are setting up on the wood stove.

Yesterday's treasures are cleaned and ready to use.  We needed a new toaster and a travel coffee mug .. both were found at our local thrift store.  Living within our means and not charging .. a must for retirement budgeting.  

New/old treasures:  $3 Kitchenaid toaster and $1 travel mug

 

"She’s like a trading ship that sails to faraway places
    and brings back exotic surprises."

(excerpt from Proverbs 31) 

Jacob .. always clowning around for the camera

• 7:00 PM ~ My day is almost finished.  The dinner tonight was spaghetti with meat sauce and a big tossed green salad.  Nathan is still working on his second helping .. My little grandson, Jacob, is over visiting while his parents have a date night.  

Nathan ... yum .. spaghetti .. his favorite meal!

Two more tasks and then It will be time to wind down.  Dishes/kitchen clean up .. and bake the bread that is set to rise at the moment.  One more visit with you tonight before I head to bed.  The weather gauge is showing 13F (-10C).

• 11:00 PM ~ Finally a chance to sit down!  Time to unwind from a very busy day.  Miss Kitty and I are ending the day with a little cuddle time.  Looking forward to resting on Sunday.

"Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Work six days and do everything you need to do. But the seventh day is a Sabbath to God, your God. Don’t do any work."
 (from Exodus 20:8)

Walk This Way ... Know Your Calling

"How then shall they call on Him on whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?  And how shall they hear without a preacher?" Romans 10:14

Are you 'called' to be a missionary?  If you have breath in your lungs, proclaim Jesus as Lord, then you are called.  You may not be sent to the foreign mission fields, but how about your family and friends, neighbors, strangers?  Could you  be a verbal and or silent witness for the Kingdom of God?  What does that mean?  As a Christian, the life you lead should be a reflection of God to shine into the darkness.  The Gospel of Luke gives us a wonderful portrayal of how to be that shining light when in chapter 1, verses 76-79 John the Baptist's father, Zachariah, filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesied about his soon to be born son:

"And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
    for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
⁷⁷ to give his people the knowledge of salvation
    through the forgiveness of their sins,
⁷⁸ because of the tender mercy of our God,
    by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
⁷⁹ to shine on those living in darkness
    and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

Your calling will be different than mine.  Since the age of seven, I've known my calling .. to be a homemaker and stay at home mother to my future family.  My inspiration came from both my grandmother AND my mother (both working women).  These two gave me my direction and Christian foundation practically by osmosis.  Now, being the wife of one man, the mother of four (including a special needs child) AND a grandmother, confirms my 'mission' of family and home; this is a large part of my personal mission field. 

Mrs. Mac wearing very her very practical shoes

Do you have your marching orders?  Are your feet considered beautiful .. ready to share the gospel of peace .. and bring glad tidings of good things where ever that may lead?

Let's Get Rolling

.... with the new Sock Adventure.

Day 1

January 9, 2013

You might ask, "what's a Sock Adventure?"  I was not sure when the idea was presented last autumn during the 2012 retreat; passing socks around the world was certainly different.  But, we've passed a scarf, apron and a Bible in the past .. so why not socks?  So .... (drum roll) .... with the idea of walking in Jesus footsteps in mind, we shall begin.

Being the first out of the chute is always challenging as I have no ideas to glean from but my own.  It's nice to see and read what the other sisters post as we take turns.  We are all from different stations in life, age and location, united in our hearts through our Christian faith and desire to walk closer to Jesus.

Our key verse for this adventure is:  "How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things."  Romans 10:15

If we back up to the beginning of this verse it says:  "How can anyone preach unless they are sent?"  

Sent?  Does this mean we must go to far off lands?  Yes and no.  We can be 'sent' to the far ends of the earth .. or to the neighbor up the road.  Everyday we step outside our door, we have the opportunity to 'be sent' ... preaching the gospel of peace.

Today I leave you with this version of our verse from Handel's Messiah.

Are you ready to be sent?